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Journalism of Courage
The BJP8217;s latest crisis speaks volumes for its present fragility. The Lal Krishen Advani-Madan Lal face-off, even if it can be managed for the moment, has flashed the torch on an even deeper fissure within the party 8212; the turbulent relationship between its two stalwarts. On the face of it, neither Atal Bihari Vajpayee nor L.K. Advani have gone public on the tensions that have dogged their political friendship spanning five decades. In fact, they have occasionally gone public about denying that there was any friction between them 8212; in October 2002, for instance, Vajpayee spoke with such flourish about his friendship with Advani that it is said his words brought tears to the latter8217;s eyes. Yet, no serious political observer of the BJP can deny that theirs was, continues to be, an extremely ambivalent relationship.
The party8217;s dilemma is that it cannot afford to ignore the nuances and uncertainties of the Vajpayee-Advani relationship since it has played such a pivotal role in bringing the party to power. The latest crisis has hurled it, once again, into the seas of uncertainty. Vajpayee8217;s espousal of Khurana8217;s cause was designed to send across two unambiguous messages. One, that he continues to be the chief arbiter within the party and that crucial decisions cannot be taken without his express consent. Two, and more important, that it would be extremely premature to write him off politically, despite his semi-retired status. The fact that he chose to put his thoughts on Khurana8217;s expulsion from the party on paper and then go public with it, is also significant. It is the kind of decisive manoeuvre that is characteristic of Vajpayee when he feels that his status is being undermined. Remember the moment when he announced to his startled party 8212; after being confronted with Venkaiah Naidu8217;s 8216;Lauh Purush-Vikas Purush8217; formulation 8212; that the BJP will go to the next election under the leadership of Advani? And how the party ended up backing him unequivocally?
